Skip to content
Navigating a New Political Landscape: View real-time updates about the impact of and Northeastern’s response to recent political changes.
Apply
Stories

Scientists say ‘forever chemicals’ may be contaminating 57,000 US sites

People in this story

Getty Images

The Hill, October 2022

Tens of thousands of sites across the U.S. may be polluted with toxic so-called forever chemicals, a team of scientists argued in a study released on Wednesday.

The researchers said that in the absence of information proving otherwise, contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) should be presumed at 57,412 locations spread across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The areas in question include sites that discharge jet fuel firefighting foam, certain industrial facilities and places where waste contains these cancer-linked chemicals, according to the study, published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

Continue reading at The Hill.

More Stories

Cruise ship

From theft to cabin safety, how do cruise ships deal with crime at sea?

05.13.2025
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a news conference in Switzerland on May 12, 2025, following a two-day closed-door meeting with Chinese officials. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Blinks on China Tariffs

05.13.2025
Caution tape

Is a serial killer stalking New England? Northeastern experts say the evidence doesn’t add up

05.13.25
All Stories